On Monday, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) assured that they have assistance for workers who will be affected by the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila starting Friday.
The lockdown will last for 2 weeks, where many workers are expected to be affected.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said they are ready to implement the 2-week ECQ because they still have aid funds left for informal and formal workers.
“Lalong-lalo na sa mga informal at formal workers, eh medyo handa kami. Kasi may naiwan pa kaming pondo na binigay ng ating DBM (Department of Budget and Management) at ng ating Pangulo para sa mga manggagawa. Kaya ready kami,” said Bello.
This includes the COVID-19 adjustment measures program (CAMP) for formal workers with one-time assistance of P5,000 for them.
He said that informal workers could be given menial jobs such as cleaning the community for 10 to 15 days, and they will be paid the equivalent of the minimum wage.
On the other hand, Bello hopes that the Department of Finance will be able to find funds for other workers who will be affected by the lockdown.
“Hopefully, ang DBM will find resources. Secretary Sonny Dominguez of DOF, magaling mag-raise ng funds yan, kaya medyo kampante ako,” said Bello.
DOLE promised to help workers affected by ECQ
Meanwhile, Malacañang announced Monday that low-income families in Metro Manila would get P1,000 to P4,000 cash aid once the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) begins on August 6.
“Walang ECQ kung walang ayuda,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.
“Sigurado may ibibigay na P1,000 per person and maximum of P4,000 per family. Hindi pa lang sigurado saan kukunin,” he added.
(P1,000 per person and a maximum of P4,000 per family will surely be given [to qualified beneficiaries]. We just don’t know yet where the funds will be sourced from.)
Last week, Malacañang admitted that the national government has no budget yet for the proposed two-week enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the National Capital Region (NCR).
However, Roque said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is expected to identify on Monday afternoon where the funds for such cash aid would come from.
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